At GOALS, we love a friendly competition. Welcome to the 2023 Expedition Team Challenge!
As we approach a pivotal year-end campaign, GOALS is creating some fun & friendly competition between 2023 expedition teams to see which group can raise the most awareness and donations. The success of this ‘2023 Expedition Team Challenge’ will enhance the GOALS experience for YOU and for future GOALS kids by:
1. expanding year-round programming that keeps us more connected beyond the river.
2. increasing financial aid to make our expeditions more accessible for all, and ideally decreasing program costs for every participant.
The competition will launch on Colorado Gives Day (Tuesday, December 5) – and will run through Sunday, December 31. Each expedition team will work together to out-raise all other teams, with real-time leaderboard results available RIGHT HERE throughout the challenge. Just as is the case in a river-side game of kubb or washers, good-natured ribbing is, of course, encouraged! You can participate by commenting below.
Here are some helpful tips to maximize donations to your Team Challenge:
- Assemble your personal network: who are your biggest cheerleaders? Could you ask them for a contribution to support GOALS and help your team win the competition? Start collecting contact info for your family, friends, neighbors, etc.
- Craft an email/social media post: here is some sample language to help get you started… Please support an organization that is important and meaningful to me. GOALS designs river expeditions that transform the future for kids and wild places. I have personally been positively impacted by GOALS, [share why you love GOALS]. Gifts of all sizes make a difference, please consider donating here – [insert a link to your team page].
- Activate the Group Chat!: maybe your expedition group already has a group chat coordinated? If not, GOALS HQ can help arrange one for you. This is a great way to start strategizing on how you're going to out-raise all of the other teams. You could even nominate a 'Trip Leader' to guide the team. Let's goooo!
- Think Creatively: get your expedition team together and coordinate a fun way to collect donations. Random sunny Saturday? Car wash! Extra snowy Sunday? Shovel for your neighbors! Would your parents/guardians ‘sponsor’ you to wrap all those holiday gifts? Bring on the scotch tape!
- Leverage Colorado Gives Day on December 5: while the competition does not officially begin until Tuesday, December 5, the individual Team Challenge pages are live and accepting donations for Colorado Gives Day. I would recommend sharing the fundraiser details with your network once before December 5 and then again on December 5. All gifts made through the Colorado Gives Day campaign are boosted through a $1M lead gift.
Have questions or need help along the way? Please reach out to Amanda Popp at amanda@goalsonrivers.org or (814) 777-2494.
Good luck and have fun!